CANNES -- Harry Potter star Emma Watson shows off a new celeb-obsessed personality and a specific Los Angeles accent in The Bling Ring.

But her fans will be interested to see that Sofia Coppola's new film features a fully-clothed Watson performing a brief but memorable show on Paris Hilton's stripper pole dance floor.

The British actress insists she needs some work on the sultry maneuvers.

"If you watched the film, I'm hardly a pro pole dancer," Watson said on Friday, promoting The Bling Ring at the Cannes Film Festival where it premiered. "I actually look pretty bad doing it."

But the 23-year-old actress is turning over a new page following the last Harry Potter film in 2011 and taking on more provocative roles. The Bling Ring focuses on a group of celeb-obsessed Los Angeles kids who use the internet to track their favorite celebrities so they can rob their Hollywood homes of designer goods.

Director Coppola is impressed with Watson's "transformation" in the film, insisting that the pole dancing was necessary to reflect Watson's real-life character.

"The pole dancing exercises was part of that culture," said Coppola. "I wanted to show that whole universe."

The former child star is growing up as a human being and learning about herself in the process.

"You sort of accept certain things about your personality," Watson said of growing older. "I don't need to beat myself up about not wanting to go out (at night). I thought there was something quite peculiar about me because I was this insular person. But that's just how I am. You learn to be okay with the way you are."

That new found acceptance does not include ordering a stripper pole for her own home.

"Shockingly no," Watson laughed, when asked about getting her own pole. "But who knows? Anything can happen. I might be totally different in a year."